Researchers give nod to GM maize trials

By JAMES KARIUKI

Monday, February 15 2016

Emanuel Ber, 5, plays with yellow maize at their home in Rachuonyo, Homa Bay County, on January 19, 2016. National Biosafety Authority has approved cultivation trials for GMO maize. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A public-private consortium behind the scientific development of drought and pest resistant high yielding maize varieties says last week’s approval for national field trials is the way to go.

Acting Kenya Agricultural Livestock and research Organisation (Kalro) Director General Eliud Kiplimo, and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Executive Director Denis Kyetere said they would immediately embark on the next step of identifying suitable varieties for various regions that are adversely affected by stem borers.

“This will help farmers harvest enough to feed their families and get a surplus, which they can sell to increase their incomes, thereby strengthening local communities,” said Dr Kyetere.

BRIGHT FUTURE

Dr Kiplimo said success of the Wema Bt maize portends a bright future for agriculture, where the government could give science a central role in providing solutions to food shortages and fighting pests and diseases.

“It will inject new interest in using scientific innovations and fast-track adoption of appropriate technologies to address national food security,” he said when he disclosed the new development to researchers currently meeting in Dar es salaam to review the project’s progress.